Democratic Republic of Congo

Overview of the Extractive Industries in the Democratic Republic of Congo

10 Mmillion people (16%) of the Congolese population are directly or indirectly dependent on small scale mining. In the 1980s, the mining sector contributed 25% of total tax receipts, 75% of total exports and 25% of GDP. In 2005, the Congolese government reported USD 27m tax receipts from the mining sector (2.4% of total fiscal receipts). Furthermore the sector contributed 0.24% of GDP.
DRC is an often cited example of the so-called "paradox of plenty." Extremely rich in natural resources (80% of world wide resources of Coltan, 10% of world wide resources of copper), the population suffers of extreme poverty (80% of the Congolese population lives of less than US$ 0.20 a day).

Status of EITI Implementation

The Democratic Republic of the Congo was accepted as an EITI Candidate Country at the board meeting in Accra 22 February 2008.

The country now has until 9 March 2010 to undertake validation.

The Government of the DRC early on identified the EITI as a tool to resolve the paradox of plenty. At the EITI Conference held in London on 17 March 2005, the DRC officially announced its endorsement of the EITI principles to strengthen transparency and good governance of the extractive industries sector. Following this public statement the country embarked on the implementation of the initiative.

After some initial difficulties following the national elections in March 2007, the EITI implementation process in the DRC gained momentum. Due to the commitment of all local stakeholders, some major tasks have been accomplished:

• Signature of Presidential Ordonnance N° 07/065 of 3 September 2007 concerning the creation, organisation and operation of the national EITI committee;
• Nomination of members of the multi stakeholder political and technical committee by ministerial decree N° 24-26 CAB/MIN. PL/2007 of 12 October 2007;
• Election and subsequent nomination of the members of the permanent secretariat by Ministerial decree N° 27 CAB/MIN. PL/2007 of 10 December 2007;
• Publication of the budgeted work program with the support of all stakeholder groups on 12 December 2007;
• In January 2008 the National Committee organised an international EITI Forum in Kinshasa.
• During a World Bank and GTZ mission to Kinshasa in March 2009, a plan for timely reporting and validation was agreed with the interim Committee and the Governement.
• Preparations for the first report are underway.

Governance of EITI implementation in DRC

EITI is governed by a multi-stakeholder political committee (Comité de Pilotage). This committee is supported by a multi-stakeholder technical working group (Conseil Consultatif). The day-to-day implementation of the work program is ensured by a permanent secretariat (Secrétariat Exécutif).

Mr Olivier Kamitatu, Minister of Plan leads the EITI-multi-stakeholder group.

Mr. Christian Mambu serves as the interim National Coordinator for EITI-DRC.

EITI Focal Point

Mr Christian Mambu
Interim National Coordinator
E-mail: mambu [dot] christianyahoo [dot] fr

EITI Documents

DRC has published a workplan that can be found on the Planning Ministry website.

Further information about the status of EITI implementation in DRC can be provided by Policy Adviser Tim Bittiger at the EITI International Secretariat.